Box Bug vs Western Plant Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Box Bug | Western Plant Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gonocerus acuteangulatus | Lygus hesperus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Coreidae | Miridae |
| Size | 11-14 mm | 5-6 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Western North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Box Bug
A slender, reddish-brown coreid bug historically restricted to box trees in southern England but now expanding its range northward. It feeds on developing fruits and seeds of box and hawthorn.
Did You Know?
Once Britain's rarest shieldbug confined to a single box woodland, it has expanded dramatically northward since 2000 due to warming temperatures.
Western Plant Bug
A small, oval plant bug that is one of the most important cotton pests in the western United States. It is variable in color from pale green to dark brown. Feeding on cotton squares causes them to abscise, resulting in yield losses.
Did You Know?
When alfalfa hay is harvested, millions of these bugs take flight simultaneously and can migrate en masse to nearby cotton fields, causing sudden severe damage.